1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Wedding Band. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play begins and takes place in a city in South Carolina,summer 1918. The play is centered in a backyard with three houses belonging to renters. It all begins on a Saturday morning, where a new tenant has moved in and must introduce herself. All characters share a common conflict: racism and segregation in the early 1900's.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
Although some actions caused a stir, dramatic action seemed to truly unfold when Julia revealed that she was in love with a white man. Before, she was just a new neighbor with a little bit more money than the others. Now, she's came out with the news that she's bringing controversy and unrest into their quiet close-knit backyard. It seems they are safe from the outside world and racism when they are in their backyard, but it all changes when Herman "intrudes" and brings in drama with his white family and their raging racism.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
During this time, blacks were still considered to be somewhat "new" to society. They were working the lowest of jobs and being segregated from the whites in almost every aspect. Even those fighting the war with the whites were given no honor. This detail of timing during the war exemplifies how important skin color was during this time. Julia's relationship with a white man was very unique and controversial; it was unlawful. This illegal relationship is the backstory for the whole play. If it weren't for Julia's difficult relationship, she would not have had to move around and end up in this community where her dramatic end to her relationship all took place.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Did Herman not know he was sick the whole time and how was his death so sudden? Why were the characters more concerned with the law than they were about the life of a human being? How did the role of race affect the story line? Would the story line be similar at all if it were any race other than black involved? How could the story have been different if it had been set in a different place or time?
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
Julia's only war with herself seems to be her temper and her quickness to throw around the "white" generalizations, as she says cruel things during arguments without meaning to. Against other individuals, it seems she is in constant conflict with Herman's family. She loves Herman but is constantly walking on thin ice in a way that if something slips, she is forced into confrontation with their hatred. She has done many kind things, like buys and deliver things to keep Herman's mother healthy during her illness, for Herman's family but they continue to show her nothing but hate. The conflict against society is the biggest, considering it is what is keeping her from being happily married and with her love forever. It is extreme when she even must sacrifice Herman's health in order to avoid getting arrested, which leads to confrontation. Julia seems to only have the conflict with the universe in a way that she feels hate toward some people, but also believes in a God that teaches a doctrine of love for all. Even though Julia's wants may fluctuate a tiny bit, it seems that she has just one overbearing want, and that is to spend her life with Herman in peace. Her want is unreachable, so she must find ways to cope or get around it somehow.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band.
There are a few more obvious theatrical moments scattered throughout the play. First, Mattie gets very upset over losing a quarter and Julia gives her one to replace it. Then, Julia wards off a white bell man trying to bed her and the she comes out to her neighbors and explains that she is in love with a white man. When Herman is introduced, his sickness and introduction of his family seem to be a climax point. In the very end, Julia gives away her gifts from Herman to Mattie: two tickets to New York and her wedding band. This is symbolic of her giving her future and wealth to someone else and letting her own life let itself unfold.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The image of the homes with Julia's home having an odd cheeriness about it gives us a hint that this house is going to have something special about it in the play. We then learn that this home belongs to the most important character in the play who brings a newfound drama to the backyard. The image of Julia dancing on her porch in her wedding dress with a glass of wine shows a bit of craziness. It is a contrast to Julia's general quietness and kindness. This image almost shows a coping method for Julia in her difficult times: a short-lived drunken party that's all because of the dress she's wearing. She is somewhat mocking the dress she wears.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
The first theme to be noticed is the role of race and how it is important to recognize it. The same goes for socioeconomic and educational status. On a different level, a theme of love and community creates the storyline, while race and status create conflict within the story line. Each theme contributes in a different way and can be applied to everyday life.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think?
Personally, I did not see family to play much of a role until the end of the story. Obviously Mattie and Lula love their children, but that is not a point of drama. Herman's family is a point of action. They come to take care of Herman, but their motives are selfish. They are very racist and want him to live and come home to marry a white woman. This play shows that family life isn't always based on love. It shows that social issues and mindsets can get in the way of what is supposed to be the foundation of the family. Racism is so prevalent in the time of the play that family life is brushed aside because of bigotry and can cause a family foundation to crumble very easily.
The play begins and takes place in a city in South Carolina,summer 1918. The play is centered in a backyard with three houses belonging to renters. It all begins on a Saturday morning, where a new tenant has moved in and must introduce herself. All characters share a common conflict: racism and segregation in the early 1900's.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
Although some actions caused a stir, dramatic action seemed to truly unfold when Julia revealed that she was in love with a white man. Before, she was just a new neighbor with a little bit more money than the others. Now, she's came out with the news that she's bringing controversy and unrest into their quiet close-knit backyard. It seems they are safe from the outside world and racism when they are in their backyard, but it all changes when Herman "intrudes" and brings in drama with his white family and their raging racism.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
During this time, blacks were still considered to be somewhat "new" to society. They were working the lowest of jobs and being segregated from the whites in almost every aspect. Even those fighting the war with the whites were given no honor. This detail of timing during the war exemplifies how important skin color was during this time. Julia's relationship with a white man was very unique and controversial; it was unlawful. This illegal relationship is the backstory for the whole play. If it weren't for Julia's difficult relationship, she would not have had to move around and end up in this community where her dramatic end to her relationship all took place.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Did Herman not know he was sick the whole time and how was his death so sudden? Why were the characters more concerned with the law than they were about the life of a human being? How did the role of race affect the story line? Would the story line be similar at all if it were any race other than black involved? How could the story have been different if it had been set in a different place or time?
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
Julia's only war with herself seems to be her temper and her quickness to throw around the "white" generalizations, as she says cruel things during arguments without meaning to. Against other individuals, it seems she is in constant conflict with Herman's family. She loves Herman but is constantly walking on thin ice in a way that if something slips, she is forced into confrontation with their hatred. She has done many kind things, like buys and deliver things to keep Herman's mother healthy during her illness, for Herman's family but they continue to show her nothing but hate. The conflict against society is the biggest, considering it is what is keeping her from being happily married and with her love forever. It is extreme when she even must sacrifice Herman's health in order to avoid getting arrested, which leads to confrontation. Julia seems to only have the conflict with the universe in a way that she feels hate toward some people, but also believes in a God that teaches a doctrine of love for all. Even though Julia's wants may fluctuate a tiny bit, it seems that she has just one overbearing want, and that is to spend her life with Herman in peace. Her want is unreachable, so she must find ways to cope or get around it somehow.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band.
There are a few more obvious theatrical moments scattered throughout the play. First, Mattie gets very upset over losing a quarter and Julia gives her one to replace it. Then, Julia wards off a white bell man trying to bed her and the she comes out to her neighbors and explains that she is in love with a white man. When Herman is introduced, his sickness and introduction of his family seem to be a climax point. In the very end, Julia gives away her gifts from Herman to Mattie: two tickets to New York and her wedding band. This is symbolic of her giving her future and wealth to someone else and letting her own life let itself unfold.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The image of the homes with Julia's home having an odd cheeriness about it gives us a hint that this house is going to have something special about it in the play. We then learn that this home belongs to the most important character in the play who brings a newfound drama to the backyard. The image of Julia dancing on her porch in her wedding dress with a glass of wine shows a bit of craziness. It is a contrast to Julia's general quietness and kindness. This image almost shows a coping method for Julia in her difficult times: a short-lived drunken party that's all because of the dress she's wearing. She is somewhat mocking the dress she wears.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
The first theme to be noticed is the role of race and how it is important to recognize it. The same goes for socioeconomic and educational status. On a different level, a theme of love and community creates the storyline, while race and status create conflict within the story line. Each theme contributes in a different way and can be applied to everyday life.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think?
Personally, I did not see family to play much of a role until the end of the story. Obviously Mattie and Lula love their children, but that is not a point of drama. Herman's family is a point of action. They come to take care of Herman, but their motives are selfish. They are very racist and want him to live and come home to marry a white woman. This play shows that family life isn't always based on love. It shows that social issues and mindsets can get in the way of what is supposed to be the foundation of the family. Racism is so prevalent in the time of the play that family life is brushed aside because of bigotry and can cause a family foundation to crumble very easily.